By Tom Prosser
Joe Allen says Wales “couldn’t be anymore hungrier” to get the job done as his side aim to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958.
“The World Cup is the big one and the ultimately every player wants to feature in one,” explains Allen, who made his Wales debut over 12 years ago.
“We are not a million miles but there is still a lot of work to be done.
“I think everyone can grasp just how big this is.
“We are all hugely motivated to do what we need in these next two games.”
Allen is part of a golden generation of Welsh football alongside the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and he says failing to qualify for a World Cup would leave their Wales careers feeling incomplete.
“It’s the one we haven’t got” says a determined Allen.
“We’ve come reasonably close in the past but we’ve fallen a little bit short.
“We are all getting that bit older now and starting to realise that time is running out a bit.
“I don’t think we could be anymore hungrier to get the job done, as we might not get another chance.
“We are going to throw absolutely everything at the games ahead.”
Allen is also full of praise for his longstanding Wales team-mate Gareth Bale, who is set to win his 100th cap against Belarus at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday.
“It’s difficult to put into words how much he has contributed to Welsh football,” says Allen, who has 67 caps to his name.
“He has been phenomenal for us and has shown he is a world class player over a long period of time.
“To get to 100 caps is an incredible achievement particularly as Chris Gunter is the only person to do it before him in the men’s game.
“We all see how passionate he is to play for his country and the amount of times he has turned out for us definitely proves that.
“It’s going to be absolutely rocking as it’s a Saturday night game as well.“Hopefully, If our performance can match the atmosphere then it’s going to be a good night.”